Back-to-School Shopping Hacks

Try some #shopping #hacks to ensure you don’t break the bank on back-to-school shopping, says the Krazy Koupon Lady. Shop on Sundays and Mondays so your preferred stores don’t run out of supplies; look for manufacturer coupons on things like pens and Post-its; check the local dollar store for basics; and download store and shopping apps to track the sales. If you’re shopping someplace new, many loyalty programs offer a percent-off deal to incentivize the initial purchase online or in person, the site says, and you may be able to apply credit card and loyalty rewards dollars to your purchases, too. #BackToSchool

Shopping the Back-to-School Sales

Back-to-school season is a lot like the holiday shopping season, with stores competing to provide the best deals on clothing, electronics, computers, backpacks and more. TechRadar offers a comprehensive list of the latest price cuts on everything a student might need before school starts again, including small appliances and furnishings ideal for the dorm room. It’s one of the best times of year to buy a new computer, printer, tablet or smartwatch, so even if you graduated years ago, you can shop the #deals now through the end of August and well into September. #BackToSchool

Back-to-School Spending Set to Break Records

The National Retail Federation says back-to-school shopping will break records again this year, according to Forbes Advisor, at least in part due to price inflation. K–12 spending is expected to average $890 per student, up from $864 in 2022, and college students are expected to spend $1,367 each, surpassing last year’s $1,199. Fortunately for shoppers, several states are holding tax holidays during back-to-school season. If your state isn’t among them, big-box stores such as Target, Walmart and Sam’s Club are marking down essentials, and Amazon is offering 20% off school supplies. #BackToSchool

Discounts Thank Veterans for Their Service

One way businesses salute the nation’s veterans and current service members is to offer them special discounts on Veterans Day. Chains such as Baker’s Square, Red Robin and California Pizza Kitchen offer a free meal with proof of service, while retailers such as Walgreen’s, Dollar General, Target and Publix will offer percent-off and other deals over the long weekend. What’s more, the national parks will waive admission for everyone this Veterans Day — and give disabled veterans free Lifetime Access Passes in gratitude for their service.

Make a Budget for Black Friday

To ensure you don’t overspend at the Black Friday sales this week, start out with a strict budget, Consumer Reports advises. Whether you do most of your holiday shopping in-store or online, decide how much you’re ultimately going to spend, and stick to that number. If you are not sure that you’re getting the best price on something, move on to the next web page or display. And if you can’t resist using a credit card to overspend, only carry cash to stores instead. Finally, check retailers’ return and exchange policies on Black Friday items to avoid paying a restocking fee or having to keep merchandise you don’t want.